Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Xavier Ouellet was chosen in the first round, 14th overall, of the 2009 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Juniors.

2009-10: In his QMJHL rookie season, Ouellet played in 43 games for the Montreal Juniors. He scored 2 goals and added 14 assists for 16 points. Ouellet registered 3 assists in 7 playoff games. Ouellet was named to the 2009-10 QMJHL’s All-Rookie Team. Ouellet also played for Team Quebec at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring 1 goal and adding 1 assist for 2 points in 5 games.

2010-11: In 67 games for the Juniors, Ouellet scored 8 goals and added 35 assists for 43 points. Ouellet registered 8 assists in 10 playoff games. Ouellet played for Team Orr at the 2011 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game.

2011-12: Ouellett signed a three-year entry level contract with Detroit following a breakout season with Blainville-Boisbriand. Named a team captain after the team re-located from Montreal, Ouellet was the re-christened Armada’s second-leading scorer while playing a combative, physical defensive game. In his third QMJHL season he scored 21 goals with 39 assists (both career highs) and was plus-16 with 67 penalty minutes in 63 games. Ten of his 21 goals were scored on the power play. The Armada finished first in the West Division and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Ouellet was plus-3 and scored 3 goals with 7 assists and 14 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games. He was named to the QMJHL’s first all-star team.

2012-13: Ouellet returned to Blainville-Boisbriand for his fourth QMJHL season and skated for Canada in the 2013 World Junior Championship. A team captain for the Armada, he scored 10 goals with 31 assists in 50 games and was +14 with 44 penalty minutes. Nine of his 10 goals were scored on the power play. Blainville-Boisbriand finished first in the West Division and reached the Western Conference finals. Ouellet scored 7 goals with 9 assists and was +7 with 22 penalty minutes in 15 playoff games. He was one of the top defensemen for Canada at the WJC, scoring a power play goal with 2 assists and finishing with an even plus/minus and 2 penalty minutes in six games. Canada was fourth in the tournament, losing to Russia in overtime in the bronze medal game.

2013-14: Ouellet made his NHL debut with the Red Wings in an October 21st game against San Jose and appeared in four regular season games and one playoff contest with Detroit; spending most of his first pro season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. He was an even plus/minus with no points and 2 penalty minutes, averaging 14:34 minutes of ice time during the regular season. Ouellet was -1 with no points nor penalties in 9:20 minutes of ice time in his lone playoff game. In 70 regular season AHL games with Grand Rapids he scored 4 goals with 13 assists and was +3 with 22 penalty minutes. The Griffins finished second in the Midwest Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Ouellet had no points with 4 penalty minutes and was -5 in eight playoff games for Grand Rapids.

2014-15: Ouellet was recalled by the Red Wings in November 2014, appearing in 21 mid-season games with Detroit before being returned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. He scored 2 goals with 1 assist and was +4 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging 16:23 minutes of ice time. Ouellet scored 1 goal with 15 assists and had an even plus/minus with 24 penalty minutes in 52 regular season games for Grand Rapids. The Griffins finished first in the Midwest Division, advancing to the Western Conference finals against Utica. Ouellet scored 1 goal with 5 assists and was +6 with 8 penalty minutes in 16 playoff games.

2015-16: Ouellet appeared in five games with the Red Wings during a February call-up and was second amongst Grand Rapids defensemen with 25 assists in his third AHL season. He had 1 assist and was -2 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging 16 minutes of ice time with Detroit. Ouellet scored 4 goals and was +18 with 66 penalty minutes in addition to his 25 assists in 61 games with the Griffins. Grand Rapids finished fourth in the Central Division, reaching the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Ouellet signed a one-year contract extension with Detroit in November 2015.

Talent Analysis

Ouellet is an offensively talented blue liner who is attentive to his defensive game in his own zone. He is poised at both ends of the ice and has the ability to quarterback a power play. He plays a mature game and was trusted with a big role on a veteran team. Ouellet is just scratching the surface of his potential and should continue to improve as he gets stronger and improves his skating.

Future

Ouellet continued to toil for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins in 2015-16 — appearing in five NHL games with the Red Wings in his third pro season. One of several young defensemen looking to crack the big club's roster, he projects as a big physical second or third pairing defenseman with the ability to contribute to the attack.

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